The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1801, 22 January 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justif c to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, relijfious or political. Here shall the Press the People's ri^h' maintain, Unawed bv influence and unbribed by gain.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22, 1884. How stands the blue ribbon movement in our midst % Has its popularity and influence ceased or increased, is it retrogressing or advancing 1 Though not long since the movement appeared pregnant with every good, the spirit of the cause seems now to have evaporated, and wich it the good which it promised to effect. There is something unaccountable about this — something, to say the least of it, which does not reflect credit on the promoters — on their force of character and perseverance. In cases of this nature a few men get together and embrace a principle, which after review they conclude to be a good one, and one which, if carried into effect, must be of benefit to all whom it may concorn. They immediately take steps for its execution, secure a following, moke a noise, and thus develop the popularity of their scheme. The public appreciate their effort for good, laud and patronise them, and thus encouraged, th«-y continue in the contest against evil, until by and bye their own personal interest and enthusiasm begins to fiagand give out, and the institution which they have with no little pains and, possibly, self-sacrifice, built up begins to weaken in the foundation, totters, and finally tumbles to pieces. This is unhappily the result of much enthusiasm. Genoml'y it nuy be taken as an indication that having undertaken a task which at the outset appeared a good and praiseworthy one, the promoters have become convinced that the uiu.se in which (hey labour is not so deserving aftiu* all — the result was not equal to the expectation — and having arrived at this conviction, it were better they should secede from it altogether. We hope this has not been the case with the Blue Ribbon Army in "Waikato ; surely the promoters of that organisation have not lost faith in its object. Still it is retrograding, and the downward pace is generally more rapid than the upward has been. The Cambridge branch has of late not been making much headway ; indeed, we regret to learn, it has been slightly on the decline — possibly it has merely been enjoying a well-earned recess, and before long will again come forth with fresh vigour co wage war against the prevalent evil of drunkenness.

The banks in Waikato will be closed on Tuesday next, the 29th, the anni\eisary of the province.

The examination of Waikato school teacheis commenced at the Hamilton East School yesterday. Mr Collier acted as suyeivisoi, and about seven teachers attended.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of S. Peter's Church, Hamilton, will be held in the Public Hall, tomoUow evening.

We understand that the new Wesleyan Church at Cambridge will be opened for di\ me worship about the second Sunday in Febi v.v y.

The weather, which has been very changeable of late, was vary boisterous on .Sunday night and yesterday morning. Kain foil heavily, accompanied by a high wind. Coin in the stack will buffer material damage.

Mr Crosse, surgeon dentist, has made arrangements to remain in Hamilton until the 31st hist. His advertisement will be found over the leader.

Studies were resumed at Hamilton Wes>t School, yesterday, but owing partly to the short notice given, and partly t>> the wretched state of the weather in the morning, the attendance was very small. Only some fifty children put in an appearance.

A team of cricketers at Cambridge has challenged the Waikato representative team at piesent in Auckland to a contest to be played next Saturday week. The arrangements aic not as yet complete, but it is considered almost certain that the match will take place.

The Piako County Council, we are pleased to notice, us devoting a little attention to the condition of the road recently laid off ))(itAM'fi» Matamata and Oxford. Mr T. G. S.mde-, engineer to the council, has been in-tmcted to visit the road, and report upon its condition at the next meeting of that body.

A small race meeting had been arianged to be hold on the Cambridge couise next Satm day, the occasion of the match between (,Jiulp and Sportsman, but the stewaids believing it likely to interfere with harvest operations abandoned the idea. We learn that the trotting match betivenn Mi Carter's Polly and Mr Kellys hoi.se i» off.

The Sydney Annexation and Federation Convention is likely to bear fuiit sooner than was expected. A cable message leceived last night, and published in another part of this issue, states, on the anthoi itv of the London Times, that the Biitish Government will probably undertake the maratinie defence of New Guinea.

Mr W. B. Langbridge, a gentleman well-known in Waikato, died suddenly at Auckland on Saturday morning. He had been ailing for some time, but his death w.is quite unexpected. The late Mr Langbridge was at one time joint proprietor, with Mr Silver, of this journal, and for the last few yeara he conducted an advertising agency in Auckland.

At a meeting of the Raglan Jockey Club it has been arranged to hold a race meeting on the 17th March next, when a sum of about £fiO will be run for, a ! fact that ought to insure some good sport. Thosa present showed their appreciation of past services, by re-electing to the several offices of president, treasurer and secretary Messrs Brettargh, Chas. Gilmour and E. C. Matthias. We wish our Raglan friends good weather and a numerous attendance at their charming seaside resort.

The following special telegrams to the Press Association dated London January l!)th and 20th have appeared in the N.Z. Herald:—lt is reported that there are 150,000 unemployed in the city of Paris, and violence is threatened.—Senor Castello has formed a new Tory Ministry in Spain, the policy of which ia unfavourable to the English treaty. Marshal Guisata, a personal fritud of the King, is Minister of War.—The Times says that England should undertake the maritime defence of New Guinea if the colonies will become jointly responsible for the Europeans on land.—The Economist considers that the colony of Victoria is in a favourable position, and whatever may be the faults of the administration the colony cannot be considered at all overwhelmed with debt. — Astralian wheat cargoes have been sojd at 435; but the present value to London direct in ad to 4?«,

It will be seen from an advertisement in another column, that Mr Harry Seville, having engaged the services «>f the celebrated Professor Payne, the champion rifle-shot of the world, purposes giving a series of entertainmentt in the Waikato. Tho company will appear at Te Aroha tonight and to-mnrrow night, at Hamilton on Thursday, Oambiidgo on Friday and Saturday, at Te Awamutu on tho 20th, and Alexandra on the SOfch. The following opinions of tho press will give some idea of tho professor's meritn :—London Times, Juno 25th. —Prof. Payne's entertainments. —We have witnessed Home of the best rifle shots in the world—Dr. Carvor, Bngardus, and others to numerous to mention—but we must give Prof. Payne the palm, for his fancy rifle shooting is simply marvellous in the extreme, and we can strongly recommend lovers of exciting wonders to visit this entertainment. Payne comic sketch, entitled " Bewildered Countryman," is of a most amusing and bewildering nature. —San Francisco Morning Herald, of December s.—Prof. Payne gave his fourth entertainment at tho Bushstreet Theatio last evening to another crowded house, and we must say that the professor is a wonder in himself,' as he occupies the stage for fully two hours and a quarter, without delays or waits, and keeps his audience in one continued mode of excitement. We must give the worthy professor a word of praise, as he really does more than ho advertises, not like many entertainments we have witnessed, where their .show is on the walls in pictures, and not on the stage in reality. We are very ■sorry to s,iy that Prof. Payne leaves our sunny shores for New Zealand, where, we feel sure, he will draw ciowded houses, as his entertainments are of the most refined nature. Prof. Payne gave his first entertainment in the Royal Hawaiian Theatre last evening to a bumper house. The prof, is without doubt a polished artiste. His rifle shooting is the most exciting feature we have ever witnessed, and Payne's wonderful dancing skeletons which appear and disappear at intervals, dancing to music over the heads of the audience is beyond our apprehension, and which it is impossible to explain. The sketch given by Prof. Payne and his brothers, entitled " The Bewildered Countryman," is of the most peculiar and pleasing. Owing to want of space prevents us of a longer paragraph, although we can safely say that a column would not bo too much for the worthy professor's entertainment. Hegiveshissecond entertainment this evening at the Theatre Roy.il, where we pi edict another crowded house. j I ' |

In its report of the proceedings in connection with the usual Lord Mayor's " show" in London on November J), the Scotsman has the following :—" In the procession there was a novelty surpassing everything in its striking character. Like all specially good things, it was kept to the last. The long string of liverymen and aldei men in their ' chariots and four' had passed to the music of more than a dozen bands. Alderman Hadley had waved his hat to the friends -who sought to buoy up his spiiits in the hour of his great disappointment by cordial assurances that he would yet reign in the chair. 'Now for the Lord Mayor,' was shouted. The equipages were seen to be growing in magnificence every minute. Presently, just when the ciowd were looking out for the splendid uin'fomis of the Queen's Trumpeters, a, lie.uv rumbling car appeared. Even the urchins looked at it in silent wonder, fur on the car were hung two rows of sheep caic.i&ses, dres-*>ed by the butcher, and ie<idy for immediate quartering. As .seen fiom the s^ieet, the car was a mystery. It looked just as though some practical joker had carried off part of one of the stalls in Farringdon Market, and had joined in the procession in a spirit of wanton mischief. The car, however, had a meaning. It was mcait as a word in season to the thousands of workpeople by whom it was seen, for beneath the mutton was an announcement that it was all ' frozen meat brought from New Zealand !' Immediately behind the mutton c.une the glittering tiumpeters, heralding the approach of the Lord Mayor."

Mr John Bright has no belief in the Hare system of representation. To a gentleman who wrote for his opinion about it, he has leplied: "I think Mr Hare's plan more of a ' fad ' than any other yet submitted to the public; and it has this disadvantage, that scarcely anyone can understand it. It aims at making Parliament an exact photograph of every phase ot public opinion, and under it there is no fancy or folly which might not, and probably would, have its repi esentative in the House. Parliament would be broken up into busy cliques, led by the political lunatics who would have entrance within its walls My advice is, Keep to the old ways; they are satest, and the ' wayfaring man, though a fool (in some sense), shall not err therein.' 1 have known several of Mr Hare's supporters; not one of them has seemed to me to possess tho common sense which is as useful and necessary for legislation and government as in the ordinary pursuits of life. I am in favour of the Constitution which has come down from our foiefathers, with such amendments as circumstances and our experience seem to warrant. T think they woulJ. have looked on Mr Hare's scheme with mingled amazement and ridicule. You have asked my opinion, and I have given it. Ido not see the perfection which its friends claim for the patent constitution of Mr Hare."

The London correspondent of the Melbourne Age records an interview with Mr Froude. They spoke of Mr Gladstone. "He is a great orator," said I. "Our greatest," replied Mr Froude promptly; " such a machine for the coining of phraseology and its mellifluous utterance the world has never before seen. In many ways, too, he is our most remarkable public man of this or any other time. If he wero not a remarkable man, do you think he could still rule this nation in the face of these terrible facts ?"—indicating the Irish assassinations and other troubles. "But," added Mr Froude with a smile, "he is the most devout worshipper of the fetish of his own contriving, or the fetish of party constitutional government. No other great man has ever so entirely believed that you have only to fit a negro with an English tweed suit to make nim a civilised lawabiding Anglo-Saxon citizen."

The Otago Witness pays a high compliment to the Native Minister. In the issue of the 12th hint, our contemporary wiites:—When any true history of New Zealand is written, there are few names that will shine with greater lustre in its pages than that of John Bryce. No one has done so much, and so effectually done it, to put an end to our difficulties with the Natives. The record of his proceedings might fitly, and w ith most exact propriety, be entitled "The Conquest of Peace. Steadily and steadfastly—without par.ide or ostentatious pretence—he has pursued a policy which, greatly as it was questioned, and bitterly a,s it wan at first condemned, has approved itself to public commendation by its consequence.". Cilumny has not deterred him, nor has defamation caused him to swene from his course. It is by judicious firmess of action, coupled with the most rigid honesty of purpose, that he has achieved success. Now that his work is well nigh over, we see how well and thoroughly Mr Bryce understands the character of the natives. They have learned to trust him, to believe his word, and to understand that what he says he entirely means ; and it is an undeniable fact that he is the first Minister whom the Maori has so trusted and so believed. This, of itself, would be no slight testimony to his reputation, but regarded as a factor in the final settlement of our troubles with the native population it is of incalculable public value . . He is the first Minister who has impressed the Maoris with the sense of dormant existent power—suppressed, but at command. And in addition they have learned that he is not only desirous of doing any wrong thing, but is anxious to promote their actual welfare. The facility with which he has at last achieved the task—hitherto believed impossible—of practically opening the socalled King country, is the crowning triumph of his public career. There is no man who better deserves the unanimous thanks of his country than the Minister for Native Affairs.

Whex if. hails in the Transvaal, it does with some force, if the local papers may be relied upon. A late paper from Natal says that recently, in the bush, a party who had ontspanned their waggons in a sprint had to climb into trees to find safety. A farmer lost 1800 out of 2000 sheep. The horses and cattle were covered with hail up to their very ears, and were found standing dead m the bail. The waggons were covered with hail up to a few inches of the top parts of the hind wheels, and had to be dug out; next morning. Four days after this event hail was found to the depth of lift in •oms pity oj tht tfoekqnhoutkloof,